OOTD: Warm tones.

I thought the title, "Warm tones," was better than "This shade of green sorta reminds me of boogers." Right?

 Sweater: J.Crew Dulphine open cardi (here, in other colors)

Shirt: The Limited sequin tee (here)

Jeans: J Brand Lovestory (here, different wash)

Shoes: CV for Target wedges

Belt: Forever 21

Necklace: ShoptheLook.net

In all seriousness, I heart this sweater. I spotted it when it was full price on J.Crew's site but I rarely buy online because of their crazy-ridiculous shipping prices (no, I don't want to add another $100 to my cart to save $15 in your insane shipping prices. Grrr). When I went into the store after Christmas I saw it on sale for $49, but I still just wasn't biting. After many a passing thought about it, I saw it yesterday for the $49 plus 40% off so I finally bit. Yay! The color is such a great warm tone despite its boogery-ness. And with pink, it's perfect. Good thing I have a few more shirts in the same pink/mauve tone to pair it with.

Also, I realized all of the things I'm wearing were bought on a good bargain, making this outfit come to about $150 rather than the full price, which I calculated to be around $500 (that is when you consider what an original pair of CV wedges cost! OK, so I cheated.).

OOTD: Harem calling my name?

Jury is still out on the pants I featured in this post. Today is the first day I'm actually wearing them out (nothing like some patio drinkin on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon). I think I like the outfit, but husband gave me the weirdo-eyes when I came out of my closet in this outfit. Now, I don't normally take cues from Mr. Unstylish, but you always have to wonder if his opinion will be the same of others... do I look like an idiot? Here's the problem, I think-- they sit too low on the waist. They're just a tad too big right now... I think I'll go to my local tailor and have them sit higher so as to make them a little less strange. Oh, and another problem? I can't sit in them for more than 10 minutes without wrinkles being out the waazooo.

Nonetheless, I can't seem to give them up. I still gravitate towards them. I still..... well, I still like them. They're fun and risky and comfortable, and I just want them to work so badly. Therefore, I'll make them work. Damnit.

Pants: Lulu's At Ease Trousers

Top: F21 paisely ruffle tank

Sweater: J.Crew ruffles and roses cardi

Shoes: Charles by Charles David wedges (on Bluefly!)

Necklace: F21 pearl drop necklace

OOTD: *The One* arrived.

I was such a pain, pining over this dress in this post, yeah I know. Sorry for all of you who had to endure the ranting about my woes when it was there, then gone, then there, then gone... That's all pushed aside now. Because I gots it in my hot little hands, and I couldn't be happier. OK well it may need a leeeettle taking in at the bust (it runs just a tad large) but it's meant to be a bubble dress and not fitted. Some might call it a sack-- I call it comfort at it's finest.

I played a little dress up in my room because I wanted to see what it would look good with. Well, the answer was (practically) everything, which makes me all the happier knowing there are a million ways to style it. Most of these are rather simple as I basically just threw some stuff together with little inspiration, but I like what I did. Here's what I came up with-- whatcha think about her? (WARNING: picture overload follows.)

 

1: Rather unadorned.  Just to show you the shape of it-- it has little structure. (p.s. I now have a dress to go perfectly with these NYLA shoes. Love.) 

Dress: F21 silk bow dress

Necklace: F21 pearl strand (similar here)

shoes: NYLA Extravaganza pumps

  

  

2. Ole Faithful. Yeah, uh huh, the denim jacket again. Can you tell I love it? sparkly shoes + acid washed denim= supah fun.  The bow belt may need to be subbed for a simple black belt since I'm ODing on bows here.

Jacket: F21 Dean Denim jacket

Belt: F21 bow belt

Shoes: Steve Madden crinkle metallic bow pumps

Earrings: ModCloth freebies

  

  

3. Sophisticated. I just picture myself sitting outside at some Italian resto in the Spring enjoying a glass of sangria and some antipasto. (Yeah I dunno.) 

Jacket: F21 Articulate jacket 

Shoes: Charles Charles David cage sandals (similar here)

  

4. Cardi time.  The J.Crew colorblock cardi works with almost everything and I think it's cute with the dress and belted with a skinny belt. It's a casual look but still dressy enough to go out in.

Cardigan: J. Crew colorblock cardigan

  

 

5. Most demure. Which is funny, because this is one rather short dress. But it has a more... elegant, "appropriate" way about it, I think. It'd be my go-out-shopping outfit. You know. When I can again. Funny thing about this styling, though, is you lose the dress's uniqueness because it's mostly covered up by the ruffles of the cardi and the belt. But I still like this look.

Cardigan: J Crew Rose corsage cardigan

Belt: BCBG "snakebite lookalike" (this one is super cute)

So as you can see, a ton of styling options and a great price. Nice! (...and I swear I'm not high in those pictures. Why do I look so dazed?!)

Holiday OOTDs and my ACS scores!

Hi lovies! Hope you're all recovering from food/drinks/shopping. I know I still am. I thought I'd share my Christmas outfit, ACS shopping outfit and what I got today. I'm rather excited about my newest closet additions, and most of them were a departure from my initial shopping lookouts.

Here's what I wore on Christmas: the Texture Study dress (thanks, Husband!), a Limited cropped cardigan, Juicy Couture tights, Chinese Laundry shoes and a ModCloth necklace (another present from the hubs, picked it out all by himself. Good job.)--

Taken at MIL's house with the new tripod. I love that thing... going to make my life a whole lot easier.

So I was very pleased to see that most stores had decent sales going today. One of the best ones was Banana Republic's 50% off already reduced merch until noon. Thank God I went to bed early last night. I also took advantage of J. Crew's final sale (extra 30% whereas it's only 20% online) and Urban Outfitter's 50% off sale. LOFT and Ann Taylor were also doing sales, and I even saw my beloved chartreuse top and pendant necklace... but I refrained. Since they're new arrivals, I think I can get away with waiting. Here's what I wore on my mini-spree:

Top: BCBG blouse (similar here)
Jeans: AE super-skinnies (and on sale!)
Jacket: Juicy Couture capelet (OMG I actually found it!)
Shoes: Anthro's Reptilian Oxfords (by Sam Edelman)
Necklace: Free People statement necklace (EDIT: here it is on ModCloth in the pink color, love!)

And now for my scores... I'm pretty excited about all these, and using my new pretty tripod to take lots of pictures of them. :)

Clockwise: Urban Outfitter's Chiffon Wildflower Dress, J. Crew's Rose Corsage cardi, Banana Republic's Silk Rosette Dress, Anthropologie's From Monet skirt (ahhh yes I did), Urban Outfitter's velvet camisole (can't seem to find this anymore online), Forever 21's embellished tee (argh not online either).

There are still two things I plan on getting when my funds reload. We'll see how that goes. Did anyone else score big today?

An OOTD and a postponing...

I wish I didn't have to postpone the giveaway I was planning to do this week, but difficulties in stocking (i.e. NO ONE HAS THE RODARTE BELTS DAMNIT) means I'm going to have to come up with a different item to give. I literally called every Target in the metroplex. Never fear, though-- whatever I choose will be equally awesome. Or more awesome!! I'll probably do it once the holidays have settled down, but as I said, just keep your eyes peeled. It's coming, I promise.

On to other matters. I'm not sure if posting this makes me the "used car salesmen" type, or it just makes me the "likes to share goodies" type, but I thought some of you might enjoy this:

https://subscribe.hearstmags.com/subscribe/crosssite/43194

$5 magazine subscriptions? Yes! Too bad I already have too many coming to my casa, but you may be interested!


DEAL YOU CAN'T RESIST! PRICES SO LOW YOU WON'T BELIEVE YOUR EYES! (car horns honking, large clowns popping out of the corners, men with huge hair and bad camera angles, etc., etc.)


Anyway. Here's my outfit of the day. Simple yet colorful and appropriate for 70 degree weather (not even kidding)--

Looksie! It's my shoes! ohhhahhh....

Shirt: J. Crew ruffles and roses tank

Sweater: F21, I think?

Skirt: F21 leopard print pencil skirt (sold out, kinda similar here)

Shoes: Steve Madden Tristano (and for those of you who fancy Canadian Tuxedos, it comes in denim, too...)

Earrings: Francesca's Boutique

Beer + cheese = deliciousness

I was arm-twisted (heh) into going to a beer/cheese tasting tonight at a local bar. I have a very refined cheese palate... in other words, I'll eat eat. I'll eat the shit out of it. Also, beer. I'm good at drinking it. Uh-huh yep yep. This is what I decided one should wear when trying to appear like I'm not wearing clothes that allow for bloat but still wearing clothes that allow for bloat.

(I didn't crop Santey Clause out of it this time... cute.)




Top: J Crew Florence Tee
Jacket: Charlotte Russe military blazer (like here)
Scarf: EPIC apparel (where I used to work; check it out!)
Jeans: AE super skinnies
Earrings: gifted... I think.

I don't usually go so "steel blue," but I thought it worked. It needs a pop of color with some heels/purse action. OK... now I'm off to accessorize. And feast. :)

Whooops...

I was so good about posting this week! Almost too good... and then I go 2 days without anything. And the guilt sets in. So now, after a night of partying it up with my ex-coworkers (surprisingly fun!), and a ginger ale/whiskey, I'm going to post a random OOTD. Taken some time last week. When I was feeling exciting and fun and creative. Right now, I'm wearing this:

Brookstone's n-a-p blanket (cuddle size)

And yes. I look that good. (jealous?!)

Except my nap blanket (cuddle size), has torn edges and may look more... mauve?... than light pink. No matter.

Here's a better look on me....

Dress: Rachel Pally

Sweater: you've seen this before... (J. Crew colorblock cardi)

Shoes: Steve Madden grey studded suede booties

Belt: Steve Madden

Cyber Monday... part deux?

I thought about it long and hard. I said, "Justine? It's a holiday. Indulge."

OK so I didn't really indulge, but I did take advantage of 20% off at a certain unnamed website for a certain someone who may or may not read this blog... and the free shipping at Forever 21.

Listen. I've just about OD'ed on F21. I've spent way too much money there, and it's all because I've been more into quantity over quality lately. (though, see my recent post on how I've been generally impressed with their quality...) I think it's a mixture of a budget and a desire to remake my wardrobe a bit, but I have to quit. For a while, at least. I should be saving up my money for nicer, classic items that are luxe and indulgent. (devil's advocate says: But that's what birthdays and Christmas are for, right?) No no no! Seriously, I'm done. Now. After this order that just went through.

(Is it a little bad of me to be a label-whore? My designer pieces' closet space are getting overtaken by F21 and Charlotte Russe. Ugh.)

At any rate, here is what I couldn't resist. Really, can you blame me?!

Above: Skirt, Satin Zip Skirt, $17.80
Jacket, Sequin 3/4 Sleeve Blazer, $32.80

That jacket is perfect for the relatively low-key holiday events I'll attend this year, and the skirt? Well, 1. It looks good with the jacket, and 2. It's adorable. 'Nuff said.

This is my less idiotic purchase. One of those very practical and classic purchases. So now I can feel a little better. :)

Turning Prep?

Lovies, I did something totally abnormal for me.

I shopped at J. Crew, and it's all your faults!! (yeah that's right, you heard me!)

To be honest, I'm not really assigning blame here. I'm happy. Just to recap, though, here's a general outline of my love/hate life with J.Crew:

Age 16: too scrawny and lanky to fit into the brand that everyone else BUT ME wore. Great.

Ages17-20ish: Though still lanky, slightly too expensive for my wallet. (Minus the swimsuits, which I wore with gusto-- this was the epitome of couture in Peoria Illinois, you must know.)

(Also, cheated on J.Crew with the Gap when they had those amaaaaazing (read sarcasm) embellished jeans. The flowers and rhinestones just cascading down the leg... what was I thinking?!)

Age 20ish to present: not enough color, not enough sparkle, a little too pricey. Still. And preppy. I'm not preppy! I'm a trend-whooor. A color-lovah. A bohemian goddess! (ahem... just believe me, ok?!)

Presently: surprised that the prices don't look so bad anymore... is it me? Is it them? Who knows. Also, I notice more texture and eye-catching details than before. Hmm.... I'm not turning prep, right? RIGHT??!!

Here's what I scored:

Colorblock cardi

Florence Tee

Velvet Flower Pin

Right now, I'm wearing all three together. Which is cute, but needs some color. The textures work great, though. I'd show you a pic, I would... but I forgot my iPhone cord. Stupid. That's what a total of 8 hours sleep in 48 hours gets ya! Anyway, I'm psyched about the purchases... I think a lot can be done with them. I have a crazy and fun idea for the cardi... what do you think??

J Crew cardi idea by justinelise featuring J Crew

Just an idea... but I think the poofy, tulle skirt would be so fun and interesting paired with this boyfriend-esque sweater. I've got my eyes on F21 tomorrow... (new Twist line debuts! Tulle abounds!)

For all my J.Crew lovahs out there...

I just had to post this. Look familiar, anyone? Hmmm??

No, no. Not J.Crew, but Charlotte Russe! Will that store ever stop ruthelessly copying designs??

Man, I hope not. :)